Expanding structures, and device and method for expanding the same

Abstract

Devices for accumulating material within a limited space, such that at most insignificant amount of material leaves the device prior to the device being at full capacity. One embodiment comprises an expandable structure to be filled, comprising a material receiving member for receiving expansible material, such that the expansible material is inserted into the member and expands within the member prior to part of the material exiting the material receiving member into another member, wherein the expansible material expands and rigidizes within the material receiving member and within the another member to form a rigid structure having a required form.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An expandable structure to be filled, comprising,
 a material receiving member for receiving expansible material, such that the expansible material is inserted into the member and expands within the member prior to part of the expansible material exiting the material receiving member into another member; and 
 an external layer encompassing the material receiving member, wherein space formed between the external layer and the material receiving member receives materials through openings in the material receiving member, and wherein the external layer is tearable as a result of the expansion of the expansible material, 
 wherein the expansible material expands and rigidizes within the material receiving member and within the another member to form a rigid shape having a required form. 
 
     
     
       2. The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the material receiving member is sturdy and is shaped as a hose having linear slots parallel to a longitudinal direction of the member. 
     
     
       3. The structure of  claim 1  wherein the expansible material is rigidizing foam. 
     
     
       4. The structure of  claim 1  wherein the expansible material is a mixture of polyol and isocyanate which create Polyurethane when rigidizing. 
     
     
       5. The structure of  claim 4  wherein the expansible material further comprises chlorofluoroalkane. 
     
     
       6. The structure of  claim 1  wherein the material receiving member is made of PVC. 
     
     
       7. The structure of  claim 1  wherein the external layer is made of polypropylene. 
     
     
       8. The structure of  claim 1  wherein the expansible material is a mixture of two liquids provided to the material receiving member through a mixer. 
     
     
       9. The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the material receiving member is shaped as a tent skeleton, wherein the expansible material is a rising rigidizing material, and wherein the expansible material fills the material receiving member to capacity, the external layer and at least one space formed as part of a tent structure. 
     
     
       10. The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the tent skeleton comprises two side edges, a front arc, a rear arc and a top spine. 
     
     
       11. The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the tent skeleton further comprises a top spine support member or a back sill. 
     
     
       12. The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the tent skeleton comprises internal wiring. 
     
     
       13. The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the tent skeleton comprises a solar panel located on an external side of the space. 
     
     
       14. An expandable structure to be filled, comprising,
 a material receiving member and a second member, the material receiving member receiving expansible material which expands within the material receiving member prior to part of the expansible material exiting the material receiving member into the second member, 
 wherein the expansible material expands and rigidizes within the material receiving member and within the second member to form a rigid shape having a required form, 
 wherein the material receiving member limits initial volume of the expanding material, and once the material receiving member is filled due to expansion of the expanding material, the material receiving member opens to let the expanding material to the second member, and 
 wherein the material receiving member comprises openings and wherein the material receiving member comprises a folding grille which unfolds as the material receiving member and the second member fill. 
 
     
     
       15. The structure of  claim 14 , wherein the openings are covered by at least one patch comprising a sieve. 
     
     
       16. The structure of  claim 14 , further comprising a filling device for filling the structure. 
     
     
       17. The structure of  claim 14 , wherein the expansible material fills the material receiving member and the second member, and leaks through the openings to attach the structure to a wall. 
     
     
       18. The structure of  claim 14 , wherein the structure, except for the openings is made of impermeable material. 
     
     
       19. The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the material receiving member is a triangular prism to be used as a ramp for loading or unloading a freight to or from an elevated location. 
     
     
       20. An expansible shape to be filled, comprising,
 a material receiving member for receiving expansible material wherein the expansible material rigidizes within the material receiving member, and the structure forms a triangular prism to be used as a ramp for loading or unloading a freight to or from an elevated location, 
 wherein the expansible shape comprises a multiplicity of material receiving members arranged horizontally on each other, such that the topmost member is of a substantially right-angled triangular prism shape, and additional members are of a right-angled trapezoid prism shape. 
 
     
     
       21. The structure of  claim 20 , wherein the expansible shape comprises a multiplicity of material receiving members. 
     
     
       22. The structure of  claim 20 , wherein the multiplicity of material receiving members are interconnected.